Revolvers vs Semi-Autos

[wbraswell]

I rely mostly on revolvers. But, I have a 70 Series Gov't Model that has never failed(with a Colt Mag) as I can remember and I have put more rounds through it than any other gun. Revolvers can fail, they are designed and made by humans. I once kept a Model 29 in my headboard. I unloaded it, to take it to the range. I then pulled the hammer back, and the mainspring broke. A fat lot of good it would have done me if I had needed it. I have a Model 13-3 that broke the trigger notch off, rendering it useless as well. I have no use for autos that don't have a safety lever. My nightstand has a 13-3, and my truck has a highly disfigured BHP. The Browning has never failed to fire with any mag.

 

[silentflyer]

Take a look at all the post from guys with semi-autos with fail to fire,dropped clips,fail to eject, fail to feed etc etc. vs the few with wheel gun issues, and so far the .357/.41/.44 mag have much more ft.lbs than anything except the 1911, and it's not plastic either...

 

[snubbyfan]

I'm a revolver guy and conceal carry a 442. I've shot it alot and it's never failed me. I keep it cleaned and maintained, that includes making sure the screws are tight. I've been thinking of getting an M&P9c for concealed carry for the higher capacity but it'll really have to prove itself before I'll trust it. I'll probably just end up carrying a second revolver.

 

[jaykellogg]

There is no best gun, there is no best defense round, and there is no best action. Choosing a gun is like squeezing on a balloon. Push in one place and it pops out somewhere else.

Autoloaders, some people without a lot of hand strength cannot work the action. Whether it is real or not, the idea is they tend to jam from time to time.

Revolvers, bulkier, heavier, and limited usually to six rounds or less.

I had a LEO friend who told me that during a silent alarm he dropped his revolver on the concrete floor of a department store. Nothing was found and after his shift he went to unload the revolver. He couldn't get the cylinder to open and he couldn't get the cylinder to turn.

I bought a .22 revolver used, took it to the range and test fired it. About one in 8 rounds wouldn't go off in the SA mode. Shooting DA almost none would go off. Apparently it had a weak mainspring. (I took it back).

I carry a Kel Tec PF-9. All of my possible carry guns are autos except for a Taurus 44C snub nosed .44 magnum I bought for hiking. I chose it because it was a concealable .44, not because it was a wheelgun.

 

[Fishslayer]

I don't and can't carry in NJ but at my bedside, a loaded revolver will fire every single time!
Simplicity is a beautiful thing.

Semiauto is actually a bit simpler than a revolver. And I can assure you that a revolver WILL malf from time to time.

 

[mjr]

I'm a revolver guy and conceal carry a 442. I've shot it alot and it's never failed me.

I've got a Model 49 that's often carried in my left front pocket, and the darn thing always fails me on the sixth shot.

 

[Joewisc]

Semiauto is actually a bit simpler than a revolver. And I can assure you that a revolver WILL malf from time to time.

Sure, they won't work every time but what does? As for simplicity, what's easier than swinging out the cylinder and loading 'er up. Many of the semis are tough to rack/slide and jamming problems are common. Plus a good heavy revolver recoils less and is more accurate. Just my opinion.

 

[johngalt]

I have a target 1911 that is tight, accurate, guaranteed to shoot 1.5" at 50 yds. One of those guns that everyone claims should be unreliable because it isn't loose and doesn't rattle. I have had it for about 5 years, probably approaching 10,000 rounds through it. It has NEVER malfunctioned. Not even once. Ever.

I have had my revolver malfunction - I've had dirt/powder/something get under the ejector star and jam up the cylinder. I also had the ejector rod unscrew and tie up the cylinder. So it can happen, and if it does, you aren't going to be able to fix it 'right now'. Your odds of recovering from a malfunction with an auto is a lot higher.

That said, I got a 642. It it will do the job, the odds of it malfunctioning are extremely remote, and it is easily replaced.

 

[Ron H.]

Hey, wow--a zombie thread. This thing's been resurrected from 2009.

Semper Fi,

Ron H.

 

[beemerrider]

I own and shoot about 30 or so revolvers; mostly S&W's with 4 or 5 Colt's and one Charter Arms adding to the mix. I have about 30 or so semi-autos, including Glocks, S&W's, Sigs, Beretta, a Colt .25, a Walther .22, a browning .22 Challenger and a couple of High Standard .22's from my Bullseye days and 7 or 8 1911's. Romantically, I like my S&W revolvers the most, but only carry a couple of .38 snubbies; a 338 and 442. I have a CCW and generally carry a 1911 Les Brown or Wilson, or a Glock .40, or a SIg 9mm or .40. I shoot and maintain my carry guns regularly, and can't remember the last time I had a malfunction of any kind. I practice malfunction drills and can clear a semi-auto very quickly. I carry the autos because they hold more rounds, are very quick to reload and I am more practiced with their triggers and can fire more quickly and with greater accuracy than when I fire my revolvers double action. Many can shoot their revolvers about as fast and accurately as I can my autos, so; " To each their own."

 

[627 city hunter]

HK P2000...

My hands are just large enough I cannot do sub compacts like I can do compacts.

I bought the P2000 .40 LEM from a range buddy. Its seen real world work.

Its honestly flawless. No failures. Dang thing is dirty too! Very accurate. 60' bulls-eyes! Ceaselessly firing by the way or quite quick shooting as soon as the sights line up! I go through a 50 box in 5 minutes easily

 

[Checkman]

I'm authorized to carry the Glock 19, Glock 26 and my S&W Model 49 Bodyguard. They work and I've never had any trouble with any of them. I own more revolvers than semi-autos. But I trust my Glocks.

 

[labworm]

If it doesn't go bang the first time, I want it to be a revolver.

 

[mjr]

If it doesn't go bang the first time, I want it to be a revolver.

Wait...what?

 

[Old cop]

During my 30 yr. LEO career I had to use my issued revolver more than once to save my hide and it did. I continue to carry a small .38 in retirement and probably always will. A few years before I retired my agency transitioned to the Glock M23, which I still have in the safe. It's accurate & completely reliable, but will never take the place of my .38.

 

[Fishslayer]

Hey, wow--a zombie thread. This thing's been resurrected from 2009.

Semper Fi,

Ron H.

(#&$^$*@#(!!! Got me again!

Must be getting cold in Wisconsin...

 

[therevjay]

I think modern semi-autos are quite reliable. It is however a fact, they require more maintainace and more training and practice. If someone wants to buy a gun, toss it into a bedside drawer, forget about it for years, then expect it to function properly, (at 0 dark 30) a semi-auto is NOT a good choice.

 

[Darkenfast]

I've moved in the semi-auto direction. I was always a revolver fan, and after being gunless for some years (out of the country), I was hoping to eventually find an S&W wheelgun. As it turned out, an older Browning Hi-Power fell into my lap. As I've mentioned in other threads, the BHP is about the same size and weight as a three-inch barreled RB K-frame; in other words, it's not too big, not too small, and handles a reasonably powerful cartridge without being too hard on the hands, the ears, or the wallet. I'm very poor and have a hard time getting to a range to shoot. I thought for a long time about trading for a revolver (I have a whole list of S&W's I'd love to play with), but when I finally got to shoot it, I decided it could stay my "one and only". It's not for everybody, I dry-fire and do handling drills with snap caps a lot. But it meets my needs just fine. If my lucky find had been a nice P&R Model 19 (or a Model 10, or a Highway Patrolman, or a ...), that would have been great too!

 

[Prof_Fate]

Many things to consider I suppose.

I shot 20 some PPC matches this summer with a XDm - only issue all year was a bad primer in one of my reloads.
Shot 7 or 8 PPC matches with a 686. again, not a single issue. BUT it needed cleaned every third match. Shooting lead from it, jacketed in the XD. I assume lead accumulation on the forcing cone to be the issue.
I can strip and clean the XD with no tools...the 686 needs tools.
I can reload the XD faster and with a lot more ammo.

I shot an IDPA match with the XD and with an MP9. Had a reload with retention where i didn't seat the mag completely in the MP.

Have 2400 some rounds through the XD to date and had 2 stovepipe on a weak hand shoot shortly after i got the gun - limp wristing probably, no issues since.
Have 300ish through the MP - not a single issue.

The guy next to me at PPC shoots 2 686's (snubby like mine and a 6"). He had issues with the snubby not releasing his cases on reloads. Same ammo as the 6". I tried his ammo in my snubby, no issues. He cleaned it and after 12 rounds started having sticky cases again.

Point being - both are reliable, or as reliable as anything man makes that's properly maintained.

Unless its a kimber of course. One guy has one that's yet to put a full mag though it without a stove pipe - lots of different ammo and shooters and slide springs. Never met a kimber owner yet that hasn't said 'well, after 1500 rounds of break in it's reliable now'.
and 300 maybe in the MP9.

 

[forresth]

I hope I never have to use any gun to defend myself.
Beyond that; neither needing 7 or more rounds, or a good semi-auto misfiring are all that likely. I think the lack of capacity makes the semi the winner. That is the way I chose.